Four men have been jailed following a series of cash machine explosions including one incident in Marlborough.
At approximately 3.23am on Tuesday 9 August 2016, we received a report from the fire service that the cash machine behind Waitrose in the town centre had been set on fire. Although the ATM was damaged, the offender failed to gain access to it.
A joint police investigation between Wiltshire Police and the Metropolitan Police found that the incident was part of a series of cash machine explosions across the country, mainly in the London area, resulting in the theft of £120,000 and more than £200,000 of damage.
At least 10 cash machines were targeted – as well as Marlborough, machines in Twickenham, Uxbridge, Windsor, Harrow, Frimley and Denham were damaged.
The gang responsible for the incidents were sentenced last month as follows:
– Ray Abraham, 36, of Hobart Drive, Hythe, Hampshire was sentenced to 11 years and four months jail
– Daniel Dorkin, 26, of Baynard Close, Basingstoke, was sentenced to 11 years in jail
– Trevor McCarthy, 43, of Barlby Road, Ladbroke Grove, London, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months
– Gary Mills, 40, of Fleetwood Close, Chalfont St Giles, was sentenced to 10 years and eight months
Dorkin, who was responsible for the incident in Marlborough, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.
Detective Constable Craig Rathbone, of Swindon CID, said: “This investigation was led by the Metropolitan Police and we are pleased with the outcome. In order to gain entry to the cash machines, the men pumped gas into the machine before igniting them from a short distance away.
“It was very lucky that this incident in Marlborough, as with the other incidents across the country, did not result in any injuries to pedestrians or motorists nearby.”
